Z1OwnersClub GB

As the title says, this concerns my restoration of my Z900 A4. I have had the bike for 12 years and had done a little to it each year - but nothing particularly substantial. It was respoked (10 years ago), had a bottom end gasket replaced (6 years ago), braided lines (3 years ago) and a carb overhaul (last year). It had begun to look very tired and when the German Rally was announced I thought it would be good to get it restored before the event.

I did wonder whether to put this thread up because this project will not have the craftmanship of Ralph, the bling of Morten nor the practicality of Mikey - but decided to post something because what I did realise is that this restoration is provided through parts and services provided by members of the club and users of this site.

I started over the week between Christmas and New Year - this was the starting point


Once I started the strip down I found much of the bike had been untouched - although the right hand side front end had been rebuilt following a front end low side.



This had clearly damaged the frame - and it had handled like a pig ever since. The first of the bodge ups became apparent inside the headlight shell



All the chrome was stripped for Mikey



Along with the plating



One of the coils had been replaced with something cheap and nasty - leading to the expression "wat yong wiv your bike sir.."



More bodges were revealed - the centrestand bolts were from a combine harvester. No wonder it rocked on the centre stand...



I knew that my daughters boyfriend's dumbell would come in useful




I finished in 3 days getting to this




I will put some more photos up in the next few days detailing how the bike is now cast to the four corners of England as members work their magic.

Hello Bill,Nice post you,ve started there and a good time to put some of those things right,especially those centre stand bolts!!..........Good luck with the resto and keep the pictures coming

Christ your daughters boyfriend must be a strong lad if he reps with them weights on a dumbbell

Good luck with the rebuild

Good stuff Bill , good luck with the progress , interestingly enough the cheap and nasty coil is still working at least 12 years on

Go for it Bill

This is going to great to see.

Good luck from Mark

Great stuff Bill..........



............. You never know, bit this may inspire one or two more to start spinning the spammers.

Looking forward to seeing it re-born.

Grand job Bill. Nice bit of reporting, keep it coming lad

Bill Newman wrote:i did wonder whether to put this thread up because this project will not have the craftmanship of Ralph, the bling of Morten nor the practicality of Mikey.

i agree we cant all be pro rebuilders but these guys and 'you' give some of us something to aspire to. Any body who whips out an engine is fairly obviously serious about his project.
Good luck and keep the pics and narrative coming

Forgot to say Bill......... Congrats on working out the photo 'thing'......



.............. Easy when you know how!

Well done bill good start mate keep at it.
Will start to polish all the steel work this week for chrome plating
and possibly the zinc plating will be back friday.

How cool isn't that Bill Great project started and I know you have all the experience and guts needed to get this together better than most of us others. Let the pics. coming

Wish you all luck and smothness with the job and if theres something I can help you with (apart for bringing the Kerker over ) let me know.

By the way I just love that green monster in the back of the pictures

steve bowdler wrote:Christ your daughters boyfriend must be a strong lad if he reps with them weights on a dumbbell

Good luck with the rebuild

He is 6ft 5 and 19 1/2stone and there aint an ounce of fat on him. Those dumbells are 65kg each and yes he does reps with them. He bench presses 225kg for fun too.

I always carefully consider whether to have an arguement with him....I usually decide not to!!

He should be useful for moving the motor around, if nothing else.

Keep the pictures coming Bill, I must say your garage is one of the cleanest I have ever seen.

Bill, Nice to see a A4 getting the full treatment.( i have one in the same colour)
If you could get your switches off, and sent to me (with return postage cost) i will refurbish them for you ...free of charge! (clean out a re-greased and re-painted) I restore suzuki gt750 switches, but could cross over to zed switches too. Pm me for an address. as long as no parts are needed. ZM.